"Gua mu xiang kan" literally means to wipe one's eyes and look again, and it is used metaphorically to mean viewing someone with new eyes, indicating that they have made remarkable progress or changes and can no longer be measured by old standards. This idiom originates from Pei Songzhi's annotation in the Biography of Lu Meng in the Book of Wu of the Records of the Three Kingdoms, quoting the Jiang Biao Zhuan: Lu Meng was originally shallow in learning, but later devoted himself to study. After talking with him, Lu Su was greatly astonished, and Lu Meng said, "After three days apart, a scholar should be viewed with new eyes." It is often used to describe how, after hard work, a person's abilities, status, or character have improved so markedly that those around them are compelled to change their previous contempt or fixed impressions. When used, it carries a tone of admiration and amazement, mostly in positive contexts, emphasizing the greatness of the change and the speed of the progress. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the affirmation in traditional Chinese culture of acquired effort and self-improvement, and also reminds people not to view others with a static eye.
📝 Example
1. He went abroad for further study for a year, and after returning, his professional ability advanced by leaps and bounds, making his colleagues look at him with new eyes. (Indicating viewing his remarkable progress with new eyes.)
2. This small company rose to fame overnight with its innovative technology, making the entire industry look at it with new eyes. (Indicating re-evaluating and valuing it due to tremendous changes.)